Episodes
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In this episode of The Climate Dad, host Mike Smith introduces a new segment called the Climate Minute, where he shares key climate news updates. He highlights the rise of sustainable aviation fuel and the benefits of electric vehicles, and mentions how companies are abandoning certain sustainability goals.
Mike is then joined by Jonathan Bowers, founder and CEO of Path and Focus, to discuss the increasing importance of wildfire resilience. They explore personal experiences with wildfires and the innovative technology being developed for fire growth modeling. The conversation also touches on the role of fire suppression agencies, public tools for fire risk awareness, and the significance of indigenous practices in fire management. Ultimately, they emphasize the need for adaptation and collaboration in addressing the challenges posed by wildfires.
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In this episode of The Climate Dad, Mike Smith discusses the shifting patterns of tornado activity in the U.S. due to climate change. He explains how changing tornado patterns can cause fatal heatwaves in humid areas.
Mike then interviews Elizabeth Wimbush, the Director of Sustainability and Responsibility at PPAI. They discuss Elizabeth's personal journey into sustainability, and how individual action can combat climate issues. They explore the promotional products industry's shift towards sustainable practices and the regulatory pressures driving this change. Elizabeth highlights the importance of optimism in tackling climate issues, and uses the recovery of the ozone layer as a successful environmental initiative example. The episode emphasizes the need for a collective effort when addressing climate change.
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Episodes manquant?
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In this episode of The Climate Dad, your host Mike Smith will discuss the climate causes and effects of electricity consumption in 2024, focusing on the growth in demand and the role of renewable energy. He'll also be talking about and examining the interaction of a climate worry that many people have – methane coming from permafrost, and how that will interact and is currently interacting with climate policies.
Next, he will be joined by Deb Ryan at S&P Global. She shares her background in the oil and gas industry and her transition to working on emissions reduction. Deb Ryan discusses her experience working in the oil and gas industry and the issue of flaring gas. She highlights the environmental impact of flaring and the need for better practices in the industry, and more. She's a big thinker about complex topics and about how capital flows and engineering enable change. It's an informative, information-dense interview with a personable leader. Enjoy!
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In this episode, Mike Smith and Nick Gardner discuss the intersection of climate change, policy, and insurance.
First, Mike highlights the concept of tipping points and the importance of staying below certain temperature thresholds to avoid irreversible climate events. He also discusses the climate positions of the vice presidential candidates and the role of insurance in addressing climate risks.
Next, Nick Gardner explains how insurance companies have the power to influence the transition to a more sustainable future and the need for aligning insurance with climate goals. Premiums for the Planet is a movement that aims to drive change in the insurance industry by pressuring insurance carriers to adopt sustainable practices. The movement is focused on collective action and collaboration among businesses to drive systemic change.
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In this episode, your host, Mike Smith, discusses the climate consequences of our upcoming national election about how humans really make choices. He also talks about Taylor Swift, private flights and music festivals - bet you weren't expecting that!
Next, he welcomes his guest, Kyra Holt of Planet Bluegrass to discuss her work in sustainability, solar power, and of course, bluegrass music. They discuss female leadership in the climate space, her own climate journey and the strong community ties that festivals can enable.
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In this conversation, Mike Smith interviews Russ Stoddard, the founder of Oliver Russell and Unit of Impact, about the importance of living your values in business and the role of green business certification programs like B Corp. They discuss the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the need for businesses to prioritize environmental and social impact. Russ shares his personal journey in climate action and the challenges of making a meaningful impact. He emphasizes the importance of stakeholder activism and rejecting the status quo of shareholder primacy. Russ also mentions his book, 'Rise Up: How to Build a Socially Conscious Business,' which provides a template for building a business with social and environmental impact.
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To kick off this episode, your host, Mike Smith, explores the intersection of forest, fire, and climate, thinking about how natural disasters shape our opinions on climate. He discusses his personal experience with wildfires and the role of climate change in exacerbating fire risks. He also touches on the history of wildfire suppression and the need for forest management practices.
Next, he welcomes his guest, Dylan Jones of Highland Outdoors, and they discuss the importance of storytelling in raising awareness about the environment and the unique beauty of West Virginia. Overall, the conversation highlights the need for collective action and shared values to address the challenges of climate change. They cover various themes related to climate change and its impact on West Virginia, including the emotional connection to forests, the increased threats of flooding and drought, the need for consensus and engagement across political spectrums, the role of small businesses in addressing climate change, the resurgence of print media, and the importance of central Appalachia in the fight against climate change.
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In this episode of The Climate Dad, Mike Smith – CEO of Aclymate – dives into various issues, ranging from what scope emissions are to the interconnectedness of development and carbon emissions. Mike will also give a breakdown of the role of renewable energy in decarbonizing our economy. He will cover issues like the Clean Power Plan, the first-ever bill to set limits on emissions from U.S. power plants, and how despite being rejected by Congress, the plan has achieved many of its goals.
Mike is then joined by Jennifer Blossom Beddingfield, the Director of Human Resources and Sustainability at Xavier Creative House. They discuss the importance of sustainability in the pharmaceutical industry and the journey of Xavier Creative House toward becoming a B Corp. Mike and Jennifer emphasize the idea of shared responsibility in the context of climate change, and the need for collective efforts to drive meaningful action. Jennifer also highlights the role of Human Resources in driving sustainability and the importance of education to empower individuals to make climate-informed decisions.
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In this episode, Mike Smith, founder and CEO of Aclymate, and Christian Moore, Vice President of Risk Consulting and the climate lead for Concentric, contemplate the intersection of environmental protection, climate change, and security. Mike begins the episode by explaining the basics of climate change, including how carbon dioxide traps heat on Earth, the concept of relative concentration pathways (RCPs), and how climate change poses a risk to national security. In the conversation, Mike and Christian discuss their shared military backgrounds and how they became interested in climate change.
Both Mike and Christian emphasize the importance of technology and carbon offsets in combating the climate crisis. Christian shares how innovation within acoustic sensors has allowed park rangers to better monitor protected areas, as they can better differentiate between various animal and human sounds.
They also discuss the growing movement for firms to transition to more sustainable practices and how this has been integral for Concentric in attracting and retaining talent. Christian explains how he has taken steps to improve environmental commitments at Concentric.
Mike and Christian stress the urgency and significance of tackling climate change and the potential for technology to play a crucial role.
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In this environmental podcast episode, host Mike Smith divulges his origin story and how he got into climate, discusses the Paris Climate Accords, Greenland ice sheet, sea level rise and what you can do about it, climate and banking, as well as an insightful interview with a sustainability professional from a regional bank.
In this conversation, Mike Smith, the founder and CEO of Aclymate, interviews Laura Rossi, the Senior Vice President and Head of Investor Relations and Sustainability at Amerant Bank. They discuss the importance of addressing climate change and the role of banks in promoting sustainability.
They also talk about the need for more guidance and frameworks for companies to follow in their sustainability efforts. Amerant Bank's sustainability program is driven by the desire to do the right thing and make a positive impact. They believe that attracting and retaining talent is crucial, and younger generations are increasingly interested in working for companies that prioritize sustainability. The bank has seen success in talent attraction through their internship program and focus on diversity, inclusion, climate resilience, and social and environmental lending.
While there has been internal resistance, the program has gained momentum with the support of the C-suite and a clear mandate from the CEO. Investors have varied responses, with larger institutional investors taking sustainability seriously. The lack of regulation makes it challenging for investors to evaluate companies, but they appreciate transparency and a serious commitment to sustainability.
Laura Rossi, the head of sustainability at Amerant, is driven by her personal ethics and the desire to make a meaningful contribution. She believes that climate action is no longer a choice and is excited to be part of the solution. However, she also acknowledges the worry that it may already be too late to turn things around.
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